The long awaited completion of the Ring Road in Kilkenny may just have taken a step closer...

Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien has committed to looking at the Ring Road project in 'great detail' ahead of funding allocations from his department later this year for the 2026 to 2030 period.

The minister joined local elected officials at the official opening of the new Rosehill Bridge, a new pedestrian and cycling link connecting Coote's Lane to the Ring Road.

Minister O'Brien claimed he 'understands the importance' of the Ring Road project and the desire there is to see it completed by people locally. 

READ NEXT: Iconic Kilkenny building could be about to reopen after closure last year 

The minister faced further queries on the Ring Road project at Monday's event, with Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr Andrew McGuinness politely requesting the Department of Transport 'do their best' to re-explore the project, bringing an end to the long-running saga.

"I may take the opportunity minister, you spoke about accelerating delivery and you have been in Kilkenny for so many positive occasions over the years and I had the honour of meeting you as mayor on so many different occasions for various openings," Cllr McGuinness said in his address at the opening.

"The most positive opening that we envisage in Kilkenny, that we're hoping you will accelerate the delivery on is the completion of the Ring Road.

"It would be remiss of me to not take the opportunity when we have all five of our sitting TDs here and our Minister for Transport here to make that point," he continued.

"I know that we've all made it again and again and I know that you're doing your best  to make that dream a reality.

"It would be the most vital part of infrastructure for Kilkenny City and County that we would see delivered. So we would really appreciate it if you could do your best to do that for us," he concluded.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE